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Neurotrophins and Synaptic Plasticity

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Book cover Neurogenesis and Neural Plasticity

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 15))

Abstract

It has been suggested that long-term modifications of synaptic transmission constitute the foundation of the processes by which information is stored in the central nervous system. A group of proteins called neurotrophins are considered powerful molecular mediators in central synaptic plasticity. Among these, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as well as neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) have emerged as having key roles in the neurobiological mechanisms related to learning and memory. In this chapter, we review the studies that have represented a significant step forward in understanding the role played by BDNF and NT-3 in long-term synaptic plasticity. The effects of BDNF and NT-3 on synaptic plasticity can be of a permissive nature, establishing the conditions under which plastic changes can take place, or it may be instructive, directly modifying the communication and morphology of synapses. The actions carried out by BDNF include its capacity to contribute to the stabilization and maturation of already-existing synapses, as well as to generate new synaptic contacts. One important finding that highlights the participation of these neurotrophins in synaptic plasticity is the observation that adding BDNF or NT-3 gives rise to drastic long-term increases in synaptic transmission, similar to the long-term potentiation in the hippocampus and neocortex of mammals. Because neurotrophins modulate both the electrical properties and the structural organization of the synapse, these proteins have been considered important biological markers of learning and memory processes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by PAPIIT IN213210 and CONACYT 60851. We acknowledge the assistance of Zak Stinson, Amanda Mauthe-Kaddoura, and Simone Cherry-Delisle during the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. División de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México, D.F., Mexico

    Andrea Gómez-Palacio-Schjetnan & Martha L. Escobar

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  1. Andrea Gómez-Palacio-Schjetnan
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  2. Martha L. Escobar
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Correspondence to Martha L. Escobar .

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  1. , INSERM 930, Faculté des Sciences, Parc Grandmont, Tours, 37200, France

    Catherine Belzung

  2. Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom

    Peter Wigmore

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Gómez-Palacio-Schjetnan, A., Escobar, M.L. (2013). Neurotrophins and Synaptic Plasticity. In: Belzung, C., Wigmore, P. (eds) Neurogenesis and Neural Plasticity. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 15. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2012_231

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